Knitting machine



March 29, 193s. HMGADAMS A 2,112,675

KNITTING MACHINE n Filed Oct. 24, 1936 3 SheetS-Sheet l y FIG. 1.

INVENTOR.

fl IHLQ' rig Mf-Ad ams ATTO R N EYS.

Mami 29, 1938.

H. MOADAMS KNITTING MACHINE Filed 001'.. 24, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheetv 2March 29, 193s.' H lvlcAmNLc,l 2,112,675

KNITTING MACHINE l Filed oct. 24, 1936 s sheets-sheet s Fl-'4- FIG. s.

INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 29, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT CFFICE KNITTINGMACHINE poration Application October 24, 1936, Serial No. 107,460

19 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in knitting machines.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of improved meansfor automatically controlling and positioning the feed yarns of aknitchine, so that the operation of placing the wrap yarns upon theneedles may be efficiently carried out Without much of the'manual laborand extra operations now necessary.

A further object of the invention is the improved means forautomatically lifting the yarn feed head lassemblage of a knittingmachine to an out of the way position relative to the needles, at theend of the knitting of a stocking, or at any other desired intervalduring the knitting operation.

A further object of this invention is the pro vision of improved means,connected with the yarn feed head assemblage of a knitting machine,

for effective placement upon the needles of the machine by the yarn feedfingers or members of the assemblage.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, andwherein similar refer-v ence characters designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of the improved machine showingthe yarn feed head assemblage in feeding relation to the needles of themachine.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, but with the yarn feed headassemblage elevated to an out of the way relation with respect to thehook ends of the needles of the machine, so as to permit the operator tohave access to the fabric and needles of the cylinder, etc.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken through thecylinder of the knitting machine and the adjacent associated features ofthe yarn feed head assemblage; showing the improved means associatedwith said assemblage for positioning and controlling the wrap or otheryarns relative to the feed lingers and needles of the machine.

Figure 4 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the improved yarncontrolling and guiding member. A

Figure 5 is a partial bottom View of the improved yarn positioning andcontrolling member.

ting machine relative to the needles of the mafor automatically locatingthe yarns in position Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view takensubstantially on the line 6--6 of Figure 1.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose. of illustration is shown onlya preferred embodiment of the invention, the letter A may generallydesignate the improved knitting machine, which may be generally of thetype set forth in any of my following co-pendingapplications: Serial No.591,689, filed February 8, 1932; Serial No. 662,354, field March 23,1933; Serial No. 703,483, led Dec. 21, 1933. Y

The machine A may include a frame B; rotary cylinder C; a set of needlesD for the cylinder C; a rotary bobbin head E; a vertically movable wrapyarn feed head assemblage F, which includes a movable frame G and theindividual wrap yarn feed fingers H. The machine also includes the meansJ for automatically lifting the head assemblage F to an out of the wayrelation relative to the cylinder and needles of the machine atpredetermined operations. Furthermore, the machine includes the improvedmeans K in the nature of a plunger or extension of the head frame G andattached .to the latter for controlling the position of the yarnsrelative to the hook ends of the needles D and the yarn feed ngers H, aswill be subsequently described.

The details of the machine A, as above mentioned, are generally shown inmy three above identified co-pending'applications. The machine is of therotary cylinder type, and of course it includes the usual swinging latchring L, which is pivoted at 20 (see Figure 3 of the drawings). Thislatch ring L has the usual body yarn and other feed fingers associatedtherewith (not shown) and the said latch ring may further include theyarn restraining members 2 I, shown in Figure 3 which cooperate with thewrap yarn feed fingers H in restraining the yarn for feed upon thedesired number of elevated needles, all of which is more specificallydisclosed in my above identified co-pending applications.

The frame B of the machine is provided with means for rotatablysupporting the bobbin stand E, and this bobbin stand E is driven throughmeans 23, shown in Figure 1, and well understood in the art. The bobbinstand E preferably does not elevate or lower, but remains at one level,notwithstanding the fact that it is rotatable. On the other hand theyarn feed head assemblage F elevates and lowers relative to the bobbinstand, and relative to the cylinder C and'the hook ends of the needles,in order that the feed fingers H may be placed into or out of feedingrelation with the hook ends of the needles. Thus, the head asnature andis secured as at 21 to the shaft 25.: gThe fingers H are fulcrumed inlsuitable slots or by other suitable means upon the frame G, as morespecifically disclosed in my above identified no-pending applications;these feed fingers H having apertured lower ends 38 for threading of theyarns therethrough. At their upper ends the feed ngers H are providedwith suitablebutts 35, at different levels for operation by any of agroup of cams 36, also placed at different levels. These cams 36, asshown inthe drawings, are actuated by means 31 more specificallydisclosed in my above identified co-pending applications. 'I'he means 31is pattern controlled oil of suitable pattern drums v3!! shown inFigures 1 and 2 of the drawings. Y

'Ihe bobbin stand E of coursel supports any desired number of bobbins48; the yarns of which are extended from the bobbins upwardly throughsuitable tensioners 4| and then thru spring takeably consists of anextension axially connected to the head assemblage F with the lower endthereof below the normal needle hook level when the head-is lowered. Inthis position movement of the yarn feed fingers H to a needle feedingposition will place the said yarns onto the needles. In detail the meansK preferably includes a shaft 68 detachably connected by a left handscrew thread 6| axially in the lower end of the shaft 25 or other partof the head frame AG. The shaft K at its lower end has a preferablydetachable yarn control head y63, of preferably conical orfrusta-conical shape, although the shape is irrelevant. It isperipherally grooved at 64, preferably with grooves disposed at. anacute angle to the vertical so as to permit the yarns 58 to readilyleave the grooves when the needles catch the yarns which are fed bythefingers H to the needles. These grooves may take any form desired,however, and the head 63 may merely be roughened or provided with teethor other means for holding the yarns in'proper position. v

It is to be noted that when the head F is lowered the member K holds theyarn in denite relation at a point below the hook' ends of the needles,so that when the feed fingers H are swung outwardly above the needlesthe yarns will be positioned for reception upon those needles intendedto take them.

In the particular type of head shown, the flnf gers H are in circulararrangement and the member -K is disposed within the circulararrangement.

It is customary practice on conventional machines embodying a wrappinghead to tie all of the wrap yarns together in a knot prior to loweringthe knitting head in position, .and then to hang a weight upon theknotted ends of the wrap yarns. 'Ihis weight ll pull the wrap yarns downinto the cylinder and in position for feeding onto the needles when thewrap feed fingers are.' thrown into feeding position. The operator`mustperform this by hand with an attendant Waste of time and'eil'ort.Thus, the operator not only has to hang the weight on the knotted endsof the yarns, but the operator also has to remove the weight from thestocking at the end of certainknitting operations in' order to preventthe `weight from slappingthe stocking against some solid vportion of theframe of the machine. The improved means K is entirely automatic inoperation, and entails no move upon the part of the operator except toknot together the ends of the yarns below the head end 63. Lowering ofthe head F will place the yarns in position for feeding to the needlesupon movel It is of course to be understood that Ido not wish theinvention limited to use upon a wrap yarn head type of knitting machine.'I'he controlling member K may generally be used in connection with gany yarn feeding apparatus for automatically or effectively controllingand placing the yarn in such relation thatit will be fed to the needlesof the machine at a desired movement` of either a needle or yarn feedmember. It could be used externally of the cylinder for that type offeed member which moves from the outside of the cylinder to the insideof the cylinder, andvof course such control member could be usedon flatknitting machines for holding-the yarn in needle feed position at oneside of the needle line while the yarn feed finger is swung to thelopposite side of the needle line.

The improved means J for automatically lifting the yarn feed head H ispattern controlled olf of oneof the pattern drums. At its upper end theshaft 25, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 6 of the drawings, is providedwith a circumferentially grooved collar 88;; in the grooves of which areslidably disposed at diametrically opposed sides certain slide blocks orbars 8|, pivoted upon a 'control yoke lever 82. The lever 82 is pivotedopposite end is attached by`means of a connectmg rod s3 with the end ofthe yoke 1ever s2 opposite the yoke end. With this leverage mechanism asmall cam throw of the drum 38 will transmit a relatively long leveragemovement to the yoke end of the lever 82, and thus raise and lower theyarn feed assemblage F between the position shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3of the drawings.

I Means is provided to 4lock the yarn feed head in its elevated,position. This means consists of a spring operated detent |88 whichengages the yoke lever 82 and holds the head F elevated, as shown inFigure 2 of the drawings. A handle lever |8| may be employed to releasethe detent |88 by pulling downward upon said handle.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that much labor and time willbe saved in the operation of the knitting machine. On half-hosemachines, where the stocking is taken 0E of the machine at the end ofknitting of the toe; it is usually necessary for the operator tomanually lift the heavy wrap yarn head and to re-arrange the wrap yarnsand the swinging weight therefor. This all takes time. With the improvedmachine the wrap yarn head automaticall swings to an upward position outof the way 0f the cylinder and needles at the end of knitting of thestocking, and at the start of anew stocking (after the top has beenplaced upon the needles) it is merely necessary for the operator to knotthe ends of the wrap yarns togetherv below the improved control andguiding member K, and upon lowering of the wrap head the Wrapyarns willbe in position for accurate feed upon the needles of the machine whenthe respective wrap yarn fingers H are moved by the pattern meanscontrolling them.

Various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be madeto the form of invention herein shown and described, without departingfrom the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim: Y

1. In a yarn feed and controlling mechanism for knitting machines thecombination of a frame, a needle carrier, a set of needles therefor, ayarn feed member, means for moving the yarn feed member into and out offeeding relation with the needles of the machine, and means disposed atthe inside of the needle line and nonmovably .carried directly by saidframe for holding the 4yarn at its feed end in position to be disposedupon the needles of the machine when said yarn feed member is in feedingrelation with re-.. spect to said needles.

2. In a yarn feed and controlling mechanism for knitting machines thecombination of a needle carrier, a set of needles therefor, a yarn feedhead including a frame having a yarn positioning portion carried inpredetermined position thereby and having a portion disposed at a pointbelow and always inside of the line of the needle hooks, a yarn feedmember movably supported by the head frame having its feed end locatedabove the normal top ends of the needles and having the yarn extendingtherefrom to a releasably secured position with the said yarnpositioning portion which extends below the hooks of the needles,whereby upon movement of the yarn feed member the said yarn will b eapplied upon the needles of the machine."

3. In a knitting machine a cylinder, a set of needles for the cylinder,a yarn feed head, yarn feed fingers for the head movable over theneedles to feed yarn thereto, and means consisting of an extension tothe head for holding said yarns at the feed ends of the said fingers inposition to insure the application of the respective yarns upon ends ofthe needles when the head is in operative position for releasablyreceiving said yarns and holding them ln position for feed to theneedles yof the machine upon movement of the yarn feed fingers to a yarnfeeding relation with said needles.

5. In a knitting machine the combination lof a cylinder, a set ofneedles therefor, a yarn feed head above the cylinder movable towardsand away from the cylinder including a frame,`an extension on the framehaving a portion extending when the said head is in feed relation to thecylinder to a. position below the hook ends of the needles, and yarnfeed ngers movably carried by said head; the yarns from said ngers attheir feed ends being adapted to be extended beneath the portion of thehead which extends to the position below the hook ends of the needlesand there secured together in a releasable relation with respect to saidextension. v

6. In a knitting machine the combination o a' cylinder, a set of needlestherefor, a yarn feed head above the cylinder movable towards and awayfrom the cylinder including a frame, an extension on the frame having aportion extending when the said head is in feed relation to the cylinderto a position below the hook ends of the needles, and yarn feed lingersmovably carried by said head; the yarns from said ngers at their feedends being adapted to be extended beneath the portion of the head whichextends to the position below the hook ends of the needles and theresecured together in a releasable relation with respect to saidextension, said extension having grooves thereon for releasably holdingthe yarns respectively in place.

aus-

7. In a knitting machine the combination of a' Y cylinder, a set ofneedles therefor, a yarn feed head above the cylinder movable towardsand away from the cylinder including a frame, an extension on the framehaving a portion extending when the said head is in feed relation to thecylinder to a position below the hook ends of the needles, and yarn feedngers movably carried by said head; the yarns from said fingers at theirfeed ends being adapted to be'extended beneath the portion of the headwhich extends to the position below the hook ends of the needles andthere secured together in a releasable relation with respect to saidextension, said extension having a peripheral series of grooves slopedto the vertical for holding the yarns respectively in place.

8. In a knitting machine a cylinder, a yarn feed head therefor, meansmovably mounting the yarnfeed head for movement towards and away fromthe cylinder, means carried in predetermined positionl vdirectly by saidhead for holding the yarns together below the normal hook ends of theneedles, said yarn feed head having means for selectively moving saidyarns from such position onto the needles.

9. In a knitting machine the combination of a supporting frame, a.cylinder, a set of needles for the cylinder, a yarn feed head includinga movable frame and movable feed fingers thereon, means forautomatically-moving said head towards and away from the receiving endsof the needles at predetermined operations, and means carried directlyby the frame of said head for holding the yarns at their feed ends intoposition for feeding upon the needles of the cylinder when therespective yarn fingers are moved to apply the yarns upon the needles.

10. In a yarn feed and yarn control'mechanism for knitting Amachines thecombination of a frame, a needle carrier, a setof needles therefor, ayarn feed head` having a plurality of movable yarn feed members thereon,means to move the head into and out of operative feed relation withrespect to the needles, and means carried directly by the head holdingthe feed ends of the yarn so that'when the head is moved into Aanoperative yarn feeding relation to the needles the said yarns at theirfeed ends will be automaticallypositioned sothat the feed members uponinitial yarn feeding movement will apply the yarn upon the desiredneedleor needles.

l1. In a yarn feed and yarn control mechanism -for knitting machines thecombination of a frame, a needle carrier, a set of needles therefor, ayarn feed head having a plurality of movable yarn feed members thereon,and means rigidly connected with the head holding the feed ends of theyarn so that the said-yarns at their feed ends will be positioned forapplication upon the desired needle or needles upon movement of the feedmembers intoyarn feeding position.

12. In a knitting machine a cylinder, a set of needles for the cylinder,a yarn feed head, Vyarn feed members movable upon the head for applyingyarns upon the needles, and means directly connected to the head (havingnon-movable means thereon for holding said yarns at their feed ends inposition to insure the application of thel respective yarns upon theneedles when the feed fingers are moved to a yarn f eeding positionrelative to said needles.

`13.v In a knitting machine a cylinder, a set of needles for thecylinder, a yarn feed head, yarn feed members movable' upon the head forapplying yarns upon the needles, means connected as a. part 4of the headfor holding said yarns at their fe`ed ends in position to insure theapplication of the respective yarns upon the needles when the feedlingers are moved'to a yarn feeding position relative to said needles,the last inentioned means being'v non-movable and so shaped that theindividual yarns will beheld in definite 40 feed relation' to particularneedles. v

14. In a`knitting machine a cylinder, a`feed head` therefor, .aplurality of yarns, yarn feed members movably carried by said head forfeeding said yarns to the cylinder needles, and means directly carriedby said lhead for holding the .yarns at their feed ends into suchassociation with the cylinder needles that when the yarn feed membersare moved upon the heads into a feed- 1 ing position the yarns will beswun'ginto position vfor application upon the needles of the cyl-*inder, Vsaid yarns at their feed ends being tied -together forapplication upon said means just prior tothe start of knitting.

. 15. In a knitting machine the combination of vg a cylinder, a set ofneedles therefor, a yarn feed head having individually movable yarn feedmembers thereon, said head having a rigid extension thereon'with aportion extending below the feed ends of the yarn feed members forindividually olholding yarn feed ends in definite feeding rela- -tofeeding position.

tion withl respect to the needles lso that upon movement of the yarnfeedmembers the said yarns at their feed ends will be applied upon theneedles.

16. In a knitting machine the combination ofv a cylinder, a set ofneedles therefor, a yarn feed head having individually movable yarn feedmembers thereon, said head having. means thereon extending below thefeed ends of the yarn feed v members for individually holding the yarnsin denite feeding relation with respect to the needles so thatupon'movement of the yarn feed members the said yarns will be appliedupon the' needles, said means being slotted to individually place theyarns in denite relation to respective needles.

17. In a knitting machine a cylinder, a circular set of needles for thecylinder, a yarn feed head above the cylinder having a plurality `oiindependently movable yarn feed members which move from a position abovethe hook ends of the needles and'from insideof the circular line ofneedles to a position outside of the circular line of needles in orderto apply their respective yarns upon the needles, and means directlycar-v ried by the yarn feed head and extending to a position below thehook ends of the needles and at all times inside. of the circular lineof needles and releasably receiving the yarns from the feed membersthereon so as to position them for initial application upon the needleswhen the yarn feed members are moved to a feeding position.

18. In a knitting machine the combination of a needle carrier, a line ofneedles carried by the needle carrier, a yarn feeding support, a yarnfeed member carried by the support and movable from a position at oneside of the needle line to a position at the opposite side of theneedie-line for the applicationof a yarn upon a needle or needles, andmeans directly carried by said support and located at all times to oneside of the needle line for holding the yarn at its feed end in positionfor application upon the needle or needles when the yarn feed member ismoved to a feeding position.

19. In a knitting machine the combination of val cylinder, a set ofindependently movable needlesl upon the cylinder, means for selectivelyand independently moving'` said needles, a yarn feed head, yarn feedmembers movable at a location vholding and positioning the yarns so thatthey will`be applied upon the selectively elevated nee-r dles uponmovement of the yarn 'feed members HARRY MCADAMS. f

